Saturday, July 26, 2014

A beautiful day was just beginning when Eric Peterson and I set out for a two-hour drive from Pleasant Grove to Tabiona, Utah yesterday. Our original plans were to observe and photograph a variety of hummingbirds visiting feeders at the cabins of people we know on Tabby Mountain. But as Eric shared in a Facebook post last night, we started with hummers and finished with a chase of Gray Jays and Nutcrackers. We returned home nearly 12 hours and 247 miles later having shared some unique birding experiences.

We arrived at the turn off to the gravel road leading up Tabby Mountain around 7:30. I stopped the truck once as we were making our way up the mountain to the cabins so we could watch some Least Chipmunks and a Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel that were scurrying across and foraging on the road. My interest in finding and photographing mammals has increased recently so I wanted to capture a few images to study and share with others. Yesterday's Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel was the first one I'd ever photographed. One easy way to distinguish generally between ground squirrels and chipmunks is to note whether or not stripes are on the head and face. Ground Squirrels do not have stripes on their heads, but chipmunks do.

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel on Tabby Mountain in Tabiona, UT

The first cabin we visited had three feeders that were being visited primarily by Black-chinned and Broad-tailed Hummingbirds. The owners let us know about a hummingbird nest above their front porch. They said two babies were in the nest the day before, but one must have flown away. The owners were on their way out to do some fishing so we made sure to give them five pounds of sugar before they left. It was our thank-you for the pleasure of visiting their feeders. We still had three more five-pound bags to share with the other cabins we'd visit during the day.

Baby Black-chinned Hummingbird in Nest
Tabiona, UT

We weren't sure of the species at first, but we soon noticed a female Black-chinned Hummingbird that was protecting the area when other hummingbirds flew too close. The female would occasionally hover around and fly into an Aspen sapling just a few yards away from the nest. Eric investigated the sapling and found the second baby. It had just fledged. We watched as it made very short flights from the tree to a blade of grass, to the porch, and onto the tire of a truck parked in the yard just yards from the nest in which its life was given. What a contrast to see these short, stumbling, and awkward flights and then realize that within a matter of weeks this tiny bird will be buzzing swiftly and accurately from Utah to Mexico. That journey will take several weeks to complete. The image below shows it struggling to secure a perch on the stem of an Aspen leaf--seemingly hanging on for dear life. That act will be second nature in no time.

This Black-chinned Hummingbird just left its nest and is doing all it can to hold onto this Aspen leaf without falling
Tabiona, UT

I don't know if I'll ever see another hummingbird perch on a blade of grass so yesterday was a memorable experience with a hummingbird. It just goes to show how light these tiny birds really are. It's not a natural perch for a hummingbird, but when you are learning to fly you land as safely as possible where ever you can?

Recently Fledged Black-chinned Hummingbird Perched on a Blade of Grass
(Resting on the only place it could find while learning to fly)
Tabiona, UT

Recently Fledged Black-chinned Hummingbird with Eyelid Closed
(Perched on a blade of grass as it rests between very short flights)
Tabiona, UT

Recently Fledged Black-chinned Hummingbird
Resting on the porch between very short flights as it learns to fly
Tabiona, UT

Recently Fledged Black-chinned Hummingbird
Resting on a truck tire between some very short flights as it learns to fly
Tabiona, UT

Eric and I made brief visits to two other cabins to assess the activity of the birds. One of the owners suggested we visit a home a few miles away in Hanna. We followed our friend to that home and did some exploring. There were definitely hummingbirds, but I enjoyed seeing a few more fledgling birds. This time of year is filled with new life for birds and the babies are fun to watch as they learn their way around the new world. I heard the calls of Spotted Sandpipers coming from the stream behind the home so Eric and I made our way to the stream to discover a family with a mom, dad, and at least three siblings. The fledgling below still has some fine, black downy feathers clinging to the tip of its new tail.

Recently-fledged Spotted Sandpiper in Hannah, UT

Eric spent some time photographing hummingbirds while I explored the yard and observed recently fledged Green-tailed Towhees and Black-headed Grosbeaks. We eventually headed back up to Tabby Mountain to focus on some hummingbird photography. I spent a little time trying to capture Rufous Hummingbirds in flight, but I took advantage of one male that posed at the feeder.

Male Rufous Hummingbird Tabiona, UT

Male Rufous Hummingbird Tabiona, UT

Female Rufous Hummingbird Tabiona, UT

Female Rufous Hummingbird Tabiona, UT

My assortment of hummingbird images from our visit two years ago was much more extensive. This year my attention was diverted to some of the other birds visiting feeders around the cabins. Cassin's Finches and White-breasted Nuthatches became the target for some of my attention.

Male Cassin's Finch in Tabiona, UT

Female Cassin's Finch in Tabiona, UT

Nuthatches are known for moving from top to bottom along the trunks and major branches of trees. This is a typical pose for these birds as they forage for bugs hiding beneath bark. They will also eat seeds as they find them.

White-breasted Nuthatch in Tabiona, UT

White-breasted Nuthatch in Tabiona, UT

It's a short clip, but I did capture some video of one Nuthatch. It shows a bit of the characteristic movement of these busy foragers.

Eric and I eventually decided to leave Tabiona and drive up to Mirror Lake Campground because Eric had seen a Gray Jay there during a recent visit. I had never seen one before so it became a quest to help me locate a life bird. We made a brief stop at the convenience store in Hanna to attempt to satisfy some hunger pangs that were beginning to manifest themselves. On the way out of the store I heard the call of a Mountain Bluebird. I looked up and found a female bluebird holding a grasshopper in its beak. That was a sign that a nest with young was nearby. Otherwise the bird would have promptly swallowed the grasshopper to satisfy its own hunger. I didn't see the nest before we left to continue our drive, but I did grab the camera from the truck to capture images to add to the "birds with food in their beaks" collection. People at that store must have thought I was a nut pointing a big lens at a dull looking bird above the entrance to the store.

Female Mountain Bluebird Preparing to Take Food to Nest in Hanna, UT

Female Mountain Bluebird Preparing to Take Food to Nest in Hanna, UT

One of the cabin owners was telling us before we left Tabby Mountain that he had just recently seen and photographed California Quail for the first time in the seventeen years he had lived in that county. Eric and I spotted a male and a female Quail right as we pulled away from the convenience store. We weren't sure if we were lucky or our friend had been really unlucky for the past seventeen years.

The drive was pleasant as we made our way higher into the Uinta Mountains. We took Highway 35 out of Hanna and then onto a dusty gravel road called Soapstone Pass to make our way over Soapstone Mountain and onto Highway 150, which would take us to the campground. We arrived at the campground around 1 PM. Afternoons can be a slow time of day for birding since many birds take cover and rest during the middle of the day. We had hopes that cooler mountain temperatures would encourage some birds to remain active so we could more easily locate them amid the thick conifers and aspens.

Most camp sites in the campground areas were occupied due to Thursday being a state holiday (Pioneer Day) and many people taking advantage of a long weekend. People with food may have actually helped shorten the time it took for us to see not only a Gray Jay but some Clark's Nutcrackers as well. I've heard people who camp high in our mountains refer to these birds as camp robbers since they like to show up and take food and scraps from campsite and picnic areas.

The bird above allowed close approach as it called so I decided to try some video. I had the lens zoomed in on the bird while hand-holding the camera so it is a little shaky. It's definitely better to use a tripod when capturing video through a telephoto lens. The wind kicked up right as I started recording so there is also a bit of noise from the wind blowing into the microphone. A second nutcracker can be heard calling in the background.

We could have stayed longer in the mountains yesterday, but 3 PM rolled around and Eric and I both had plans and commitments for the rest of the day. The mountains were a great escape from the valley heat and provided some memorable experiences for us. It was another great adventure with Eric that helped me appreciate life and the world in which we live.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Swainson's Hawks are in high gear these days with breeding. Most are past the egg laying stage and are feeding young ones in the nest or helping them learn to fly and hunt. These hawks spend our winter months in places like Argentina and return to Utah around mid- to late April. I discover Swainson's Hawk nests nearly every few days as I do my daily commute to work and run errands around town. I've had a few encounters with some handsome and beautiful Swainson's recently so I thought I'd share some of the images of these awesome raptors.

Most large (buteo-type) hawks have two basic plumages, juvenile and adult. Swainson's Hawks, however, have three--juvenile, sub-adult, and adult. Swainson's Hawk adults also show slight differences between male and female. That is not typically the case for large hawks. The images I've captured in recent days include birds of all three morphs (light, intermediate, and dark), all three ages (juvenile, subadult, and adult), and male and female.

Light Morph Juvenile Swainson's Hawk Near Fairfield, UT

Light Morph Juvenile Swainson's Hawk Near Fairfield, UT

Male Intermediate Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk Being Attacked by Western Kingbird in Lehi, UT
Males tend to show gray rather than brown cheeks

Intermediate Morph Adult Swainson's Hawk Being Attacked by Western Kingbird in Lehi, UT

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Waking Up and Looking Up After a Night Camping at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon (Utah County, UT)

I love how exploring nature teaches me really important stuff--like the origins for everyday terms and phrases we use. Many have their origins in our perspective of animals and their behaviors. I also treasure the bonding experiences I have with family and friends while enjoying the outdoors. I'll start with the family time and share the word origin part at the end when I recount the discovery of a mammal I'd never seen before.

I went camping last Friday and Saturday with my son Matt and his wife Tiffany. Matt had reserved a campsite at Mutual Dell, a private camping area owned by the Latter-day Saint Church in American Fork Canyon. We enjoyed setting up camp, building a fire, having some dinner, and simply visiting with one another. While starting the fire and cooking we practiced some of the survival skills Matt had learned recently and then we taught each other how to tie some knots using paracord (parachute cord). Matt had made a really cool survival bracelet from black paracord for me for Father's Day. I now wear that bracelet every time I go outdoors. Putting on the bracelet is my "time for the outdoors" ritual now.

It was a bit of heaven being with my son and his wife in that setting. We were surrounded by a mix of conifers and deciduous trees, steep mountains, and a stream was flowing nearby. Our normal daily cares and routines were left in the valley during our brief escape to the canyon. We were simply calm and present with one another. We saw and heard Red Squirrels, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Vireos, Jays, Flycatchers, Woodpeckers, Creepers, and more. Deer made occasional appearances and Hummingbirds were buzzing around our campsite because the caretakers and volunteers at Mutual Dell keep hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water during the summer months.

As the light gave way to darkness and we'd spent a fair amount of time visiting around the fire it eventually became time to head to the tents. I decided to make a trip down to the rest room as an effort to reduce the odds of having to make such a trip in the middle of the night. I strapped on my headlamp and began the short walk. Just before getting to the restrooms I heard some rather forceful scratching sounds coming from a tree to my left. I almost ignored the sounds thinking another small, nocturnal mammal was starting up its activities for the evening. But something gave me reason to think twice. Okay, so I probably think twice and try to investigate most of what I hear and see outdoors. My family can attest to these random derailments while I'm in the nature zone. I stopped and turned my lamp toward the large trunk that had been completely dark a second before. I was puzzled by what I saw. It was a mammal to be sure, but it was one I'd never seen before. I tried to place it. I tried to push the play button of my mind's eye to recall a few of the pages from the squirrel section of my mammal field guide. It just didn't fit. "Those ears are too big. My what long whiskers you have! What's with that long, fuzzy-but-not-really-all-that-bushy tail?" Those were a few of the thoughts I had. None of them helped me identify this newly discovered mammal.

I decided to capture an image with my phone camera while illuminating the subject with the light from my headlamp. I got a couple of images so I could refer to them later when I was able to get a mammal guide in my hands. I had recently deleted the mammal guide app from my phone thinking I needed to save some memory. I quickly decided to run to my locked truck and retrieve my Nikon gear with hopes of capturing some better images. The mystery mammal was still present when I returned so I decided to fetch my son so he would witness this discovery with me. He was a good sport and left his lovely wife resting in the tent. I wish I could say it was a Northern Flying Squirrel, but that would be wishful thinking.

Here are some of the images I captured. The body was about 8 inches long and the tail was about the same length so it was about 15 or 16 inches long from nose to tip of tail. They are primarily nocturnal and live near rocky outcrops, talus slopes, and in canyons and mountainous areas so it's no wonder few people ever see one of these.

Bushy-tailed Woodrat at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon, Utah County, UT

Bushy-tailed Woodrat at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon, Utah County, UT

Bushy-tailed Woodrat at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon, Utah County, UT

Bushy-tailed Woodrat at Mutual Dell in American Fork Canyon, Utah County, UT

It turns out that this is a Bushy-tailed Woodrat. They tend to collect debris, including things discarded by humans, and pack them back to the entrance of their dens. This behavior of hanging onto things that don't seem to serve a purpose is the origin of our term "pack rat".

I turned off my headlamp after taking a few images and stood in the dark to listen for the Woodrat to move on to its business for the night. While standing in the dark I heard two Great Horned Owls calling from the conifers on the mountainside. After listening to the owls call a few times I finally accomplished what I had set out earlier to do, the restroom part. Soon I was back inside my one-man tent. It had been a great evening. I was looking forward to another sunrise and a morning with Matt, Tiff, and nature.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Birding is often slow during July and this year is no exception. When the birding gets slow, however, I turn to other opportunities to explore and enjoy outdoor activities.

The 4th of July is a fun holiday for our family. This year I made my first real attempt at photographing fireworks. The show was free to the public and held at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. I read that I should use a long lens (at least 200mm) for fireworks so I took my 80-400mm lens. Once the fireworks started I realized I needed to back away from the action even with the lens pulled back to 80mm. I moved back as far as I could and I was still unable to fit complete firework blasts inside the camera frame. I was pleased with the results.

I heard we had a super moon approaching so I set up my camera on a tripod in my driveway the night before the super moon and practiced capturing night images. The moon looked like a pearl cradled in the clouds the night before the peak of the super moon.

The Night Before the July 2014 Super Moon (Seen from Pleasant Grove, UT)

I enjoyed capturing images of the super moon the night it peaked. Again, I was in my driveway so the glow of the city lights impacted the overall results. I learned a bit about photographing the moon and was wishing I was high in the darkness of our local mountains.

Super Moon Seen From Pleasant Grove, UT

The night after the super moon I made my way up into our local mountains via American Fork Canyon. I found a place to park and set up my gear. It was at 8000 ft and near the summit of the Alpine Loop (Hwy 92). The detail of the craters on the moon was better than the night before, but it was a waning, or not-so super, moon.

The Night After the July 2014 Super Moon (The waning, or not-so super, moon)

Before capturing images of the moon that night I spent some time whistling for a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I've learned some tricks for calling these owls in that include taking advantage of a very short window at a certain level of darkness and the type and order of the whistling sounds I make. I was successful at whistling in an owl before the moon rose above the horizon, but I wasn't able to capture an image. It was a skittish little owl. The image below is of an owl I whistled in previously at the same location.

Northern Saw-whet Owl Wasatch County, UT

Flammulated Owls breed in our mountains during the summer months so I called one of those in as well. These owls are much more cooperative with being photographed. These owls will migrate down to Mexico and beyond once they finish breeding and their young have become adept at hunting and flying.

Flammulated Owl in Wasatch County, UT

I've been riding my mountain bike along the Murdock Canal in the early evening hours recently. I watch for birds and other critters, especially, Rattlesnakes as I ride along that trail. It runs along the foothills so snakes often come down to the trail where the asphalt and gravel are warm. The other night a ran across a new species of snake. I'm not sure I've ever seen one before, but I wasn't surprised when I looked in up in my reptile guide and discovered it was a subspecies of Racer. I managed a few images, but once it decided to leave my presence is moved faster than any snake I've ever seen.

Western (Yellow-bellied) Racer in Cedar Hills, UT

Western (Yellow-bellied) Racer in Cedar Hills, UT

Western (Yellow-bellied) Racer in Cedar Hills, UT

Sunsets in July can be quite spectacular. I always enjoy watching a sunset unfold because you never know what to expect. If there are clouds in the sky and on the horizon they can often be painted in a variety of colors by the light from the lowering sun.

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About Me

I'm a husband, father, and grandfather making a living as a sourcing and supply chain management professional. I love people and nature and the places they meet. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ and am grateful to the Creator who set in motion the creatures and creations I enjoy as I explore our fascinating world. Blogging allows me to fulfill my passions for exploring, discovering, learning, and sharing. I never tire of seeing what nature has to offer and love capturing and sharing images from my experiences with nature. I currently use Nikon gear and capture most of my images hand-held, without the use of a tripod.